TAMPA - A student veteran injured in combat conquered one of his biggest battles by finally graduating college.

Army Staff Sgt. Jayr Mcintyre was deployed four times and spent 55 months in combat.

The bronze star recipient was honorably discharged after being injured.

"I got stitches in my head from being blown up," he said.

In 2016 he enrolled at Keiser University in Tampa.

Soon after, a diagnosis of PTSD and frequent hospitalizations caused him to fall behind.

"I felt like a zombie. I didn't feel like I deserved to be here," he added.

With medical, peer and administrative support, he says he was able to cope.

"A lot of people don't see our illness because its not physical," said McIntyre, who went on to help other veterans battling the same trauma.

He served as Keiser's Student Veterans of America President, a chapter of a national organization that provides support to veterans as they attend school.

He also provided room and board to at least 17 other veterans to help them get back on their feet.

"I used my own house as a safe haven for veterans," he said.

Some of those veterans are now following in McIntyre's foot steps.

The Staff Sergeant says many of his friends in the service have passed on. One of his closest friends committed suicide three weeks before McIntyre's graduation.

He says the occasion was something he is proud of, but also bittersweet.

"I did it [graduate] not only for me, but for other Veterans that are no longer here," he said.

He is now enrolled in graduate school to study Entrepreneurship.